Online shopping has fallen by 4% over the previous year, according to the latest comScore analysis. Of course, this is only to be expected – consumer confidence is at its lowest ever, the economic news is depressing and people are losing their jobs day in, day out.

However, it’s easy to get things out of perspective. Don’t forget – people are still spending money online. In the USA alone, people are buying stuff online at the rate of over £120,000 per minute. So don’t panic just yet.

The “triumphant victor” W Mitchell says “stuff happens; it’s no what happens to you, it’s what you do about it”. We could focus on all the reductions in spending, the increase in people with less money in their pocket and the slow down in buying activity. Or we could focus on the people who ARE buying things.

This is the “trick” to success. Instead of worrying about the lack of consumer spending and the downturn, focus your mind on the people who are buying things and target your offerings to them. True, you need to be aware of what’s going on in the economy and take into account the global recession – but don’t dwell on it.

In a sense it is rather like cancer. Doctors repeatedly tell us that the people who survive all forms of cancer are those who have a positive attitude, who don’t let the cancer “get them” and who have a non-defeatist view on life. So take a tip from your doctor to overcome the recession. Don’t let the falling sales figures get you down; instead think positively, target the people who are spending and your online sales will be fine. Worry about the falling figures and you’ll end up falling yourself.